At first glance, it appeared that Chase Elliott was going through some rough patches in his NASCAR career. But it isn’t a physical ailment; rather, it is a struggle to regain his winning form. After a six-week absence due to a snowboarding accident in March, the five-time Most Popular Driver Award winner made a determined comeback in April. However, he has been facing uphill battles since then, fighting to secure a spot in the playoffs.

Despite giving his all, Elliott once again missed the mark in his pursuit of victory at NHMS, making the 2023 season, what he or Hendrick Motorsports had hoped for. With the second portion of the Cup Series coming to an end, Elliott struggles to climb the ranks. This is a bitter pill for Elliott to swallow and has even caught the attention of NASCAR insiders, who suggest that his absence from the playoffs could put a dent in NASCAR viewership.

Chase Elliott’s absence from the playoffs is affecting NASCAR’s viewership

As NASCAR gears up for another thrilling race week at Pocono, the playoff hopes of HMS’s star driver, Chase Elliott, seem to be dwindling. With the Crayon 301 taking a backseat, the 2020 Cup Series champion has hit rock bottom. Requiring a staggering 60 points from the next six races to secure a playoff spot seems like a far-fetched dream now.

However, the concern extends beyond just Chase Elliott and his team, Hendrick Motorsports. It also resonates within NASCAR itself. With a massive fan base eagerly following the superstar driver’s journey, many tune in specifically to witness his triumphs. If Elliott fails to make it to the playoffs, there’s a significant risk of losing a substantial chunk of NASCAR’s viewership.

Freddie Kraft, an insider from Bubba Wallace’s camp, highlighted this predicament during an appearance on Ask DBC. He recalled a past incident that shed light on the impact of Chase Elliott’s absence on NASCAR viewership. Kraft remarked,

“We saw the ratings dip; whatever 4-6 weeks when he was out, we took what was like half a million viewers hit, just him not being there. You can still sell the merchant stuff, but it’ll hurt the sport for sure if the most popular driver, in the world, across all forms of racing, doesn’t make it.”

Nevertheless, there remains a glimmer of hope that Chase Elliott can stage a remarkable comeback, with notable figures such as Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin among those who believe in his ability to bounce back.

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Can Chase Elliott make a comeback?

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Despite an agonizing winless streak that continues to hound NASCAR’s golden boy, leaving him outside the top-10 and facing heat after finishing 12th, there are some optimistic allies in his corner. Denny Hamlin, a seasoned veteran and former rival, appears to be backing the 2020 Cup Series champion, believing that the best is yet to come from Elliott as more races lie ahead.

Likewise, HMS VC Jeff Gordon shares the same optimism as Hamlin. Gordon stated, “I think those guys are very capable of doing that but just haven’t had things go their way. I think the points in the last couple of weeks have been solid. If they can continue to do that, then yes, they’re going to possibly make their way in. I know those guys.”

With this show of support from NASCAR veterans, fans and authorities alike will undoubtedly be eagerly anticipating Chase Elliott’s action-packed performance at The Tricky Triangle this coming weekend.

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